Sawhorse form



R. F. THOMPSON SAWHORSE FORM June 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 22, 1954 INVENTOR. Roy F. Thompson BY ATTORNEYS June 2, 1959 THOMPSON 2,889,176

SAWHORSE FORM Filed Nov. 22, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H In INVENTOR.

Roy E Thompson BY ATTORNEY S SAWHORSE FORM (Roy F. Thompson, Englewood, @010. Application November 22, 1954, Serial No. 4,7 0,284

3 Claims. (Cl. 304-) This invention relates to a scaffold or trestle bracket for constructing a sawhorse, trestle, scaffolding, or the like. Such brackets or supports secure a top trestle mem- -.ber to a pair of leg members to form one end of a trestle.

A conventional carpenter s sawhorse is constructed of ordinary lumber cutto size and shape and-nailed together. Such a sawhorse provides a fiat, relatively wide work surface with no exposed metallic pieces on or near the work surface. The sawhorses are necessary in carpentry, but a substantially amount of time is consumed in building and repairing horses. Brackets have been proposed for use in constructing sawhorses, which would be quickly and easily assembled. Such brackets have --not,-however, been satisfactory as they require the top trestle member to be mounted edgewise, cutting down the available work surface, and they do not properly support the legs, etc.

Included among the objects and advantages of the present'invention is an inexpensive, simply constructed bracket which may be easily and quickly mounted and *may be mounted and dismounted from the bracket without nails and similar fastening means. The length of the legs may readily be adjusted to accommodate uneven supporting surfaces with the sawhorse in an upright position. A novel leg support allows for substantial variation in the lumber, and provides maximum support for the leg lumber.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be readily ascertained by reference to the following description and appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bracket according to the invention, illustrating the position of the wooden members secured to the bracket;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the bracket according to the invention;

' Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bracket, illustrating the novel leg support means; I

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the bracket taken along section line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a complete assembly of a sawhorse.

In a "preferred embodiment, the bracket of the invention may be made of two pieces of sheet material, cut and bent to fit together in a box-like device, which is known as monocoque construction. The bracket may be inexpensively made of sheet stock spot Welded together. With such a monocoque construction, light sheet stock produces a rigid bracket of great strength, capable of withstanding substantially more than the normal stresses to which a sawhorse or scaifolding is subjected. For normal use, a bracket constructed of 22 gauge sheet has been found satisfactory.

The bracket, in general, comprises a sheet cut and bent into a general U shape. The sheet includes a top to which a top trestle member is secured and a pair of outwardly depending leg sockets. The leg sockets extend at an angle to provide a substantial support when the legs are secured therein. The leg socket includes an open side which is adapted to engage a wedge or Wedge-shaped 'slide for clamping the socket tightly around an enclosed leg. The leg sockets accommodate standard lumber, and

Fatented June 2, 1959 2 they are adapted to clamp the legs securely in the bracket without the use of nails and the like. The legs may, therefore, be quickly and easily mounted and dismounted from the :bracket.

Referring to the drawings, the outer sheet of the bracket comprises a top portion 10, and sides 12 and 14 are bent substantially normal thereto. The side or leg support 12, comprising portions of the sheet, is bent to form a box-like leg socket which includes one edge portion bent into socket side 16 and partial side 18. The opposite edge portion is bent into side 20 and partial side 22, generally aligned in the plane of side 18. The side or leg support 14 is similarly formed into a box-like leg support. The inner sheet is bent into a general -U which fits in the outer sheet to make the monocoque, or-boxlike, bracket. The inner sheethas a flared top 26 which is secured to top 10 of the outer sheet. Sides 28 and 32 are bent to align in the general plane of the edges of the leg sockets and a bottom 30 is interconnected with the two sides. The bottom 39 has an oval hole 31 therethrough for access to the interior for the welding of the parts together. A tab 34 extending from side 28 overlaps and is spot Welded to side 16 of the leg socket on support 12, and a tab 36 is, likewise, secured to the other leg socket on support 14. The two sheets arespot Welded together to make a contiguous monocoque structure.

The partial sides 18 and 22 of the leg socket provides a truncated triangular opening 38 in the outer side of the leg socket. The edge 40 of'side 18 is bent normal to the socket sides and the outer edge is bent back along the side 18 to form a short overhanging lip. The edge 42 of side 22 is, likewise, bent to form the overhanging lip. The bent up edges and the overhanging lip provides a gripping portion for a wedge or slide 44. The edges 46 and 48 of the slide 44 are bent over to form lips for engaging the'lips of the leg socket. The angle of the side of the truncated slide and leg socket opening is less than the angle of repose, or less than the angle equal to the coefiicient of friction, which is about 6 for the sheet metal used. The slide edges 46 and 48 engage the edges 40 and 42, and when the slide is forced on the leg socket, the sides of the socket are pulled in to squeeze on a leg therein. The slide extends the full length of the socket so that the full length of the leg in the socket is clamped by socket sides. This full length clamping action provides maximum strength of the leg as there are no sharp shear or stress lines.

In use, a trestle or sawhorse top 52, which is the cross piece of the assembly and which may be a 2 x 4, 2 x 6, etc., is cut to desired length and a bracket is secured, by means of screws 55 through openings 53, to each end of the top. In one preferred form, the leg sockets are made of a size to accommodate standard 1 x 4 lumber for leg members. The leg socket, with its novel wedge clamping action, allows for maximum and minimum variation, due to shrinkage, swelling, etc., of the lumber. The leg members may be used with a square cut top end, i.e. adjacent the trestle top, or a fitted top end which is flush with the top. While the bottom may be a square cut, a flush fitting, ground engaging bottom is preferred. Both the top and the bottom of the leg may be easily marked for the correct angle for cutting, after the top is secured to the bracket, by inserting the leg in the socket and scribing a line parallel to the top. A flush fitting angle cut may be made by inserting a leg member in a socket, when a top is not secured thereto, and sawing the end parallelwith the 'top. Either method provides a fast and easy .procedure for fitting legs to the bracket. The legs are, furthermore, easily changed in length for leveling the sawhorse or trestle. The wedge may be loosened to pennit the leg that needs adjusting to drop to the ground, and

the wedge is then tightened on the leg to provide correct length. Similarly, a broken leg may be easily replaced in a minimum of time. Also, a set of longer or shorter legs may be quickly and easily inserted to accommodate varying heights needed in construction work.

In normal use as a sawhorse, a pair of the brackets, according to the invention, may be secured to a 2" x 6" top. This size top provides an adequate bench top for most carpenters construction, and, furthermore, providcs a clear top and sides for the sawhorse, which is free from metal porions that could catch or dull tools of the user. It is obvious that the sawhorse may be dismantled quickly and easily, and the dismantled members stored with a minimum of space requirements. The sawhorse may, also, be stored with the legs dismantled, but keeping the brackets secured to the top.

When it is desired to use the sawhorse or trestle more or less permanently, or as a precautionary measure, the legs 54 may be secured in the sockets by means of nails driven through holes 50 to dowel the legs in place. The wedge 44 may be tacked in position by means of nails driven into the legs through holes 56. For normal use, the wedge 44 may be driven tightly enough onto the leg socket so as to prevent its accidental removal.

In assembling the legs 54 in the socket, the wedge 44 is driven in tightly by striking a bent over end 58 on the wedge. Likewise, the wedge may be removed by striking the end 58 in the opposite direction. Also, a relatively large hole 6t) is provided about centerwise of the wedge 44 to aid in removing or mounting the wedge on the socket. A large nail, or slender tool, may be inserted in the hole to provide a striking base, the force of the blow being transmitted to the wedge much as a blow on end 58. The nail head or similar device is inserted into the hole 60 and placed against one side of the hole. A hammer may then be used to rap the nail and so loosen or tighten the wedge. The use of the hole prevents undue stress on end 58, and, further, prevents marring the paint on the bracket.

In the event that a shelf or tray is desired with the sawhorse, a board 62 may be secured in between the legs of the bracket "by means of nails driven through holes 64 on the bracket. The holes 64 are accessible through the opening 38 in the leg socket whereby the tray may be installed prior to insertion of the legs in the socket.

The size of board normally used for the trestle top, ie 2' lumber or specifically a 2" x 6 board, will not support a very long span without support. Such a top may be T braced by a 2" X 4" placed edgewise beneath the top. An opening 33 is cut in the side 28 of the bracket to permit a free fit for a 2" x 4", and a portion 35 of the cut is bent down and inwardly forming a lip. The lip 35 provides a seat for a 2" X 4" brace 63, which supports the top. The brace 63 is cut to length, inserted in the opening 33, and the brackets are then secured to the top.

The holes 53 for accommodating the screws 56 are placed as close as possible to the walls 12 and 14 so that maximum strength and support is obtained therefrom. To aid in the correct alignment of the bracket on the top member, a centering notch 66 is cut into each side of the base plate of the bracket. These notches are aligned with the centerline 68 of the top for quick and easy assembly of the trestle.

4.- example, 2" x 4 legs, in which case heavier sheet metal may be utilized, and a slightly different pattern may be used forming the bracing and the leg sockets. In the preferred form, however, the design provides sufficient strength at minimum cost.

Since the wedge-shaped slide is put on in a reverse manner from the normal use of a Wedge, the word On with an arrow is stamped on the cover to provide easy identification means for the installation of the cover. Note that the butt end of the wedge-shaped cover is applied first rather than the point which is normal for such wedges. This is due to the fact that the leg socket edges are pulled together by the action of the wedge rather than pushed apart.

While the invention has been described by reference to a particular embodiment, there is no intent to limit the invention to the precise details so described except insofar as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Ascaffolding bracket arranged to be secured on a cross piece in pairs to form a scaffold or the like, each said bracket comprising a top member having a flat horizontal surface for face engagement with a lower surface of such a cross piece, side portions depending from the top member and means on said top member for its attachment to said cross piece, leg-receiving sockets integral with said sides, each having its top surface below said flat surface of the top member and depending downwardly at an outward inclination in non-perpendicular relation to said horizontal surface and in fixed relation thereto, each said socket being formed of flexible metal in. a four sided arrangement, including three closed sides and having opposed edges in a fourth side arranged in converging relation to form a wedge shaped opening, and a wedge shaped closure adapted to complete said fourth side, and said edges and said closure having interlocking means in similarly converging relation, whereby application of said closure to said edges completes said fourth side and causes at least two opposed sides of said socket to bind on the contained portion of the leg member.

2. A scaffolding bracket arranged to be secured on a cross piece in pairs to form a scaffold or the like, each said bracket comprising a top member having a flat horizontal surface of a lesser width than the cross piece for face engagement with a lower surface of such a cross piece, side portions depending from the top member and means on said top member for its attachment to said cross piece, leg-receiving sockets integral with said sides, each having its top surface below said flat surface of the top member and depending downwardly at an outward inclination in non-perpendicular relation to said horizontal surface and in fixed relation thereto, each said socket being positioned so as to permit the upper end of the leg to abut the cross piece and being formed of flexible metal in a four sided arrangement, including three closed sides and having opposed edges in a fourth side arranged in converging relation to form a wedge shaped opening, and a wedge shaped closure adapted to complete said fourth side, and said edges and said closure having interlocking means in similarly converging relation, whereby application of said closure to said edges completes said fourth side and causes at least two opposed sides of said socket to bind on the contained portion of the leg member.

3. A bracket as defined in claim 1, in which a rigid cross connection extends between and holds the leg-receivin sockets in fixed relation to said top member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 347,150 Beebe Aug. 10, 1886 1,601,946 Dujardin Oct. 5, 1926 1,876,787 Strand Sept. 13, 1932 2,689,154 Redler Sept. 14, 1954 2,692,417 Primich Oct. 26, A 

